Part 21

P. Hen. O vanity of sickness!... ... 'Tis strange that death should sing. I am the cygnet to this pale faint swan, Who chants a doleful hymn to his own death, And, from the organ-pipe of frailty, sings His soul and body to their lasting rest.

SERENADES AND 'MUSIC'

The history of Serenades is as ancient as that of Songs. In the middle of the 15th century, Sebastian Brant, a lawyer, wrote in Dutch his 'Stultifera Navis,' or 'Ship of Fools,' a severe satire on things in general, and popular amusements in particular. The book was afterwards translated into Latin, and thence into English. Here are some of the verses that treat of Serenades in the year 1450.

'The furies fearful, sprong of the floudes of hell, Bereft these vagabonds in their minds, so That by no meane can they abide ne dwell Within their houses, but out they nede must go; More wildly wandring then either bucke or doe. Some with their harpes, another with their lute, Another with his bagpipe, or a foolishe flute.

'Then measure they their songes of melody Before the doores of their lemman deare; Howling with their foolishe songe and cry, So that their lemman may their great folly heare: 'But yet moreover these fooles are so unwise, That in cold winter they use the same madness. When all the houses are lade with snowe and yse, O madmen amased, unstable, and witless! What pleasure take you in this your foolishness? What joy have ye to wander thus by night, Save that ill doers alway hate the light?'

Another verse explains that not only the foolish young men of low birth were given to this practice, but also--

'States themselves therein abuse,' 'With some yonge fooles of the spiritualtie: The foolish pipe without all gravitie Doth eche degree call to his frantic game: The darkness of night expelleth feare of shame.'

Brant had no great opinion of the music provided either. He describes their singing before their lady's window--

'One barketh, another bleateth like a shepe; Some rore, some counter, some their ballads fayne: Another from singing geveth himself to wepe; When his soveraigne lady hath of him disdayne.'

Finally--a Parthian shot--

'Standing in corners like as it were a spye, Whether that the wether be whot, colde, wet, or dry.'

Thus, one hundred years before Shakespeare was born, Serenades of voices and instruments were common, and in general practice by all classes of young men, and not only laymen, but also yonge fooles of the spiritualtie.

The instruments mentioned are such as were still in use in Shakespeare's time--viz., harp, lute, 'foolish' pipe, bagpipe, and 'foolish' flute, besides the several varieties of song, which evidently included both solo and part singing--'feigned' ballads for a single voice [ballads, that is, in the more refined 'keys' of 'Musica Ficta'], and 'Countering,' which implies that two voices at least took part.

The following passage is an example of this nocturnal serenading by a company of gentlemen.

Two Gent. III, ii, 83.

Proteus (advises Thurio) 'Visit by night your lady's chamber window With some sweet concert: to their instruments Tune a deploring dump:'

Thu. And thy advice this night I'll put in practice. Therefore, sweet Proteus, my direction-giver, Let us into the city presently, To sort some gentlemen well skilled in music.

Proteus advises Thurio to get a 'consort' (probably of viols) to play a 'dump' under Silvia's window. He goes to arrange for some of his friends to attend for this purpose. The serenade takes place in the next Act, where, in the 2nd scene, line 17, it is called 'evening music,' but does not include the 'dump,' for Thurio has 'a sonnet that will serve the turn,' so they sing 'Who is Silvia.'

Here is the passage, which is full of quibbles on musical terms.

Two Gent. IV, ii, 16.

Proteus. ... 'Now must we to her window, And give some evening music to her ear.'

L. 24.

Thu. ... Now, gentlemen, Let's tune.

L. 28.

Host (to Julia, in boy's clothes). I'll bring you where you shall hear music, and see the gentleman that you ask'd for.

Jul. But shall I hear him speak?

Host. Ay, that you shall.

Jul. That will be music.